The only rational answer I can think of is that somewhere in Cryptic's key performance indicators, on which they have to report to PWE, is a big piece on how much time players are spending on/in the latest content - presumably as a test of how successful this is. Therefore, players (like me) who focus on other areas are a BAD thing and need to be beaten into line. Hence, remove all other sources of good advancement...
I think you hit the nail on the head! They are in a phase where they have to defend the rushed-to-market and far-too-over-extended DR expansion. Their bosses are seeing the playerbase revolt with every patch. They never should have put a level cap increase into a geographic expansion. We see the results, nothing too good on either front.
It's just "Dr Doom" Roubini
Refugee from those other games!
I really think this is what's going on.
Their metrics seem so hopelessly skewed towards what the extreme dps players/whales do and balance around that, completely ignoring that this makes it nigh unplayable for the rest.
Thing is, it's only worth being a whale (in terms of what you get out of it) in a game that is balanced around non-whale spending. Balancing for whale spending cannot make whales happy and will cost you whales.
I have to ask, why do people feel they need to max out everything in a matter of weeks?
For me, it's not getting everything done in a matter of weeks as much as it is playing hte same old content over and over and over again. If we are expected to grind what little content there is, they either need to add a lot more content to keep it interesting and not repetitive or reduce the grind so players don't burn out from playing the content before they can finish that grind.
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There has been a great deal of back and forth here, not only in what they say they wanna do, but what they do after they make statements.
They change the way rep works because of power creep right? They had wanted to do this back when Nukera rep started, but they had to wait. They enrage a large amount of the player base when they do this, but we move on. Then with the new expansion they have created a much much larger issue with Power Creep. They double talk and double talk and double talk, but here is the thing, the power creep in the game with Rep didn't make them any money. you could grind and in a few months MAX out Rep, no money need for the old power creep.
Now its different, traits are locked behind a huge Dil or Zen based gate that will indeed make them money. T6 traits, only way to get them pay, wether its box ships or zen ships someone is paying for it.
Lots and lots and lots of time in game to get the new spec traits, again this will boost their numbers and it looks good, so more money for the people in charge.
I don't know how many players are still around from launch, I personaly know 5 or 6, but that number has been getting lower and lower over the past few years.
Its a new game, and to PWE its their game, they don't care about longevity any more, its all about that bottom dollar or they would care what people want, whats wrong with the game, and what the future of this game is.
Folks, cross posting isn't allowed on the forums. The thread is STILL open so you should be replying to that one.
Yes, I'm that Askray@Batbayer in game. Yes, I still play. No, I don't care. Former Community Moderator, Former SSR DJ, Now Full time father to two kids, Husband, Retail Worker. Tiktok: @Askray Facebook: Askray113
Comments
I think you hit the nail on the head! They are in a phase where they have to defend the rushed-to-market and far-too-over-extended DR expansion. Their bosses are seeing the playerbase revolt with every patch. They never should have put a level cap increase into a geographic expansion. We see the results, nothing too good on either front.
It's just "Dr Doom" Roubini
Refugee from those other games!
Thing is, it's only worth being a whale (in terms of what you get out of it) in a game that is balanced around non-whale spending. Balancing for whale spending cannot make whales happy and will cost you whales.
For me, it's not getting everything done in a matter of weeks as much as it is playing hte same old content over and over and over again. If we are expected to grind what little content there is, they either need to add a lot more content to keep it interesting and not repetitive or reduce the grind so players don't burn out from playing the content before they can finish that grind.
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They change the way rep works because of power creep right? They had wanted to do this back when Nukera rep started, but they had to wait. They enrage a large amount of the player base when they do this, but we move on. Then with the new expansion they have created a much much larger issue with Power Creep. They double talk and double talk and double talk, but here is the thing, the power creep in the game with Rep didn't make them any money. you could grind and in a few months MAX out Rep, no money need for the old power creep.
Now its different, traits are locked behind a huge Dil or Zen based gate that will indeed make them money. T6 traits, only way to get them pay, wether its box ships or zen ships someone is paying for it.
Lots and lots and lots of time in game to get the new spec traits, again this will boost their numbers and it looks good, so more money for the people in charge.
I don't know how many players are still around from launch, I personaly know 5 or 6, but that number has been getting lower and lower over the past few years.
Its a new game, and to PWE its their game, they don't care about longevity any more, its all about that bottom dollar or they would care what people want, whats wrong with the game, and what the future of this game is.
Former Community Moderator, Former SSR DJ, Now Full time father to two kids, Husband, Retail Worker.
Tiktok: @Askray Facebook: Askray113